Keith Olbermann Takes On “Professional Right” And “Amateur Left”

Since early this morning, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has been the object of ire from liberals for comments he made regarding criticism from the “professional left.” After clarifying, but not apologizing, to HuffPost’s Sam Stein, Gibbs missed today’s briefing (Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton attributed it to “sniffles and a sore throat”), but Burton further refocused Gibbs’ remarks toward liberal cable personalities. Tonight, Grand Poobah of the ‘Professional Left’ Keith Olbermann delivered a Special Comment directed back at Gibbs.

The Special Comment was preceded by a segment with Michael Moore, in which Olbermann claims that no one serious on the left has compared Obama to George W. Bush. With that caveat, I suppose he wished to exclude Jon Stewart, but it was Olbermann who seemed almost nostalgic for the feel-good smoke-blowing of the former President when Obama gave his address on the BP Oil Disaster.

In his Special Comment, Olbermann basically uses the premise of my question to Burton today, pointing out how the “professional right” seems to have more sway over this administration than those who got Obama elected. He also uses the term “amateur left” line to wrap up (used earlier by Daily News reporter Ken Bazinet‘s:

After hearing Burton this afternoon, I have little doubt that Keith Olbermann was who Gibbs had in mind with his remarks about the “professional left,” so I suppose it’s fitting that Olbermann close out the day with his response. Gibbs’ remarks to The Hill this morning were only slightly different than the response he gave me in June when I asked about the prospect of losing what he now calls the “professional left.”

Much of what Olbermann says in the segment is true, but he misses a crucial point about the right’s nonexistent appetite for compromise: this is nothing new. It’s what they are supposed to do. I think the White House’s frustration stems from having to fend off attacks that they feel they shouldn’t have to, by people who should know what they’re up against.

I also think this day-long hissy fit by liberals is embarrassing. If everyone who expressed outrage today were actually part of the “professional left,” we would be at about 4% unemployment. It seems to me liberals were looking for a reason to vent.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.